The Philadelphia 76ers have taken their most significant step in 'The Process' by securing their first playoff berth in six seasons.

Despite not playing, this was confirmed after the Indiana Pacers beat the Miami Heat on Sunday.

The Sixers haven't competed in the postseason since the 2011-2012 campaign and that was also the last time they posted a winning record when they went 35-31 in the shortened lockout year.

The 76ers are currently 42-30 with 10 games remaining and sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.

After a lengthy rebuilding job by former general manager Sam Hinkie, this finally represents their biggest progress and somewhat vindicates his controversial decisions.

Hinkie had a goal of building a team that could compete for a championship and not just make it to the playoffs.

His aim was to bring in as many top draft picks as possible and create a competitive roster with talented future stars.

It has been a tough couple of years for Philly fans but they're ultimately being rewarded for their patience as they enjoy watching some of the most exciting young players in the league.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were two of their lottery picks in recent years and have been superb in their first season together.

Embiid made his first All-Star appearance last month and Simmons is a front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award.

Only the Sixers fans can say if it was worth losing for three years - going 47-199 over that period - to get to this point.

But they're now a winning franchise once again and they will be a force in the east in the years to come.

Nobody will want to face this young, quick and athletic Philadelphia team in the playoffs as they can cause real damage.

As things stand, they're set to take on the Indiana Pacers in the first round and have the benefit of home-court advantage which would be huge.

They have proven to be a tough team to beat on their home floor and they'll certainly have sell-out crowds inside Wells Fargo Center that'll create a raucous atmosphere.

Embiid and Simmons have deservedly taken much of the praise for their success this year but the contributions of some of their core group of players can't be overlooked.

The likes of Dario Saric, Robert Covington, J.J. Redick and T.J. McConnell have played important roles throughout the campaign.

Thanks to some smart business by the front office last month, they've strengthened their roster and have more options off the bench now too.

Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova are proving to be good acquisitions with their ability to space the floor and knock down shots.

It has taken a long time, but 'The Process' is working in Philadelphia and they can now look ahead to the next step of their progression as a team.

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